A day trip to Bahrain

#Innsider Guides/Food & Drink/Middle East/Shopping

A day trip to Bahrain

If you’re planning to stay in Al Khobar, the small island country of Bahrain is the perfect size for a day trip. Relax in style at the Park Inn by Radisson Al Khobar Hotel before driving across the King Fahd Causeway – the journey takes less than an hour, and you can pack so much into one day upon arrival.

Bahrain

Bahrain is known for its spectacular motorsports venue, the Bahrain International Circuit, which plays host to the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. There are several visitor events scheduled throughout the year, so be sure to check the website for updates prior to your trip.

However, this corner of the world is also home to exciting dining and shopping scenes. We spoke to some bloggers in the know to find out more.

Eating out in Bahrain

Amy Warman, the blogger behind Appetite for Discovery, spent her school years in Bahrain. Although she left to go to college in her home country of Australia, she has lived back in Bahrain for the last eight years, so, she knows her stuff on the best places to grab a bite to eat.

“When it comes to eating out in Bahrain, we are very spoilt for choice. From fine dining establishments headed by world renowned chefs to local, family run cafés, it’s all here!

“Recently, traditional Bahraini food with a modern twist has become very popular with locals and expats alike, but you can find pretty much anything from Indian to Thai, Japanese and Spanish.

“Eating out is a very popular pastime here, and it’s not unusual for popular bars, cafés and restaurants to be buzzing on the weekdays as well as the weekends.”

Here are Amy’s top five places to eat in Bahrain:

1. Rasoi by Vineet

It’s “the best restaurant in Bahrain at the moment.”

2. Cafe Lilou

They have an “extensive cake and dessert selection!”

3. The Al Riwaq Café in Adliya

There’s a great range of sweet treats, “including Nutella-stuffed donuts made fresh to order.”

4. Saffron Café

You can expect “beautiful architecture and an insight into Bahrain’s rich cultural past.”

5. Iskenderun Grills

Enjoy a “cheap and cheerful Middle Eastern grill experience!”

For more insider knowledge on Bahrain’s tempting food scene, follow Amy’s updates on Twitter and Instagram.

Shopping in Bahrain

Georgina Jennsen has lived in Bahrain since 1998 and is a self-confessed shopaholic. As such, she knows her way around the island, and shares plenty of local know-how on her blog, Blonde in Bahrain.

So we asked, where’s the best place to head for some retail therapy?

“Most shops are located within malls, City Centre being the largest mall on the island.

“For designer boutiques head to Moda Mall and A’ali Mall, and for more high street stores go to City Centre and Seef Mall. For traditional markets, you’ll want to be in Bahrain Souq.”

Bahrain might not be the first place people think of as a fashion hub, so what should visitors expect?

“I would describe the approach to fashion in Bahrain as ‘dedicated’. You’ll find women to be over, rather than under‐dressed, and very rarely will they venture out somewhere special without having their hair and makeup professionally done. In fact there are probably more salons and makeup artists here per capita than almost anywhere else in the world!”

You can also follow Georgina’s musings on Twitter, and spot all her latest fashion buys and beauty discoveries on herInstagram